Welcome Message

Dear Participant,

Welcome to the 2026 Research and Scholarship Conference, which brings together the 28th Undergraduate Exposition, the 34th Graduate Research Symposium, the 21st Faculty Scholarship Celebration, and the 5th Faculty Three-Minute Research Competition. This is the 11th year of collaboration with the Office of the Provost, the Hunter Library, and the Brinson Honors College to present this unifying event showcasing research, scholarship, and creative activities from undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.

I express my sincere gratitude to all who are sharing your excellent work with the WCU community in this venue. I also offer a heartfelt thank you to your faculty and staff mentors who have provided guidance, support, and encouragement. Their commitment to student engagement is a hallmark of WCU’s educational experience.

We host the 2026 RASC as a hybrid event. Digital content from registrant’s posters, exhibits, and academic papers will open to the campus and community the week of March 23rd. On March 25th, the conference will host oral presentations and performances of research from various subjects, a Keynote Event featuring a faculty panel on Hurricane Helene-related research, in-person poster presentations and fine arts exhibits, and a celebration for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff presentations.

This may be your first opportunity to share your findings, results, or creative work with the academic community. Today, you take a step toward being recognized as a scholar in your chosen discipline. The skills you learn to conduct and disseminate research will enable you to share your intellectual passion and curiosity with your profession. Congratulations on this significant milestone as a scholar!

I encourage you to visit the 2026 RASC website to learn about the wide variety of research topics that are being explored by undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff at Western Carolina University. In addition, we will make available a recording of the Keynote Address, the RASC digital content, and a full 2026 RASC schedule at GO.WCU.EDU/RASC.

I hope that this experience inspires you to continue to contribute to our understanding and appreciation of = the arts, humanities, education, health, social sciences, business, and the sciences, and to create solutions to important issues facing our region, state, and world. What you do today as a student is just the beginning of all you can do to make a difference. Thank you and congratulations!

Jeffrey K. Lawson, Ph.D.

Dean, Graduate School and Research